Stalk-cutter.



P. J. GRAUL.

STALK GUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 22, 1912.

1,055,901 Patented Mar. 11,1913.

2 SHEETS-SBEET l.

Y Mfg/Wg :DLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

P. J. GRA'UL.

STALK GUTTER.

APPLIGATION FILED 00T. 22, 1912.

1,055,901 Patented Mar. 11, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

coLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH c0..WAsHINGTON. IJA c4 lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP J'. GRAUL, 0F MASCOUTAH, ILLINOIS.

STALK-CUTTER.

To all w/zom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, PHILIP J. GRAUL, a citizen of the United St-ates,residing at Mascoutah, in the county of St. Clair and State of Illinois,have invented new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Cutters, of which thefollowing is a specication.

This invention relates to stalk cutters such as are used for chopping orcutting corn stalks and cotton stalks into short lengths, enabling themto be subsequently plowed under for the purpose of enriching the soil.

In most stalk cutters the knives or cutting members are arranged tooperate transversely with respect to the line of progress. When thestalks fall longitudinally with respect to the line of progress theywill be satisfactorily engaged by the cutting members. It frequently,however, happens that corn and cotton stalks have been beaten down bythe weather or other causes in such a manner as to lie transversely ofthe line of progress. When this is the case it is obvious that suchstalks will either not be engaged or only imperfectly engaged by thecutting members, and it is also found that they are liable to becomeentangled with the cutting apparatus and other parts of the machine.

The present invention has for its object to` produce a simple andefficient attachment which may be readily and quickly applied to anordinary stalk cutter and by the use of which stalks lying otherwisethan longitudinally with respect to the line of progress will be draggedrinto proper position to be engaged by the cutting apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device or attachmentof the character described including drag hooks which may be lifted to anon-operating position with respect to the ground when the cuttingapparatus is thrown out of operation.

Vith these and other ends in view which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in theimproved construction and novel arrangement and combination of partswhich will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to thel precise structural details thereinAexhibited, but that changes, alterations and modi- Specication ofLetters Patent.

Application filed October 22, 1912.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

Serial No. 727,227.

fications within the scope of the claimsy may be resorted to whendesired.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a top plan view of a stalk cutter ofconventional construction to which the invention has been applied. Fig.2 is a side elevation ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation. Fig. 4 isa perspective view showing the improved device detached.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by likecharacters of reference.

A stalk cutter *of conventional form has been shown, the same includinga frame 1 mounted on ground wheels 2 and having a draft tongue 3. Acutting member or drum l which is suitably supported for rotation. isequipped with knives or cutters 5, and said drum may be verticallyadjusted by means of links 6 connected with arms 7 radiating from a rockshaft 8 which may be rocked by means of a lever 9 for the purpose oflowering or raising the cutting drum into or out of engagement with theground.

The improved attachment comprises a cross bar 10supported on the tongue3 in advance of the frame and connected detachably with the tongue bymeans of a pin or bolt 11. The cross bar 10 is terminally bent to formlugs or ears 12 having apertures 13. Secured on the underside of thecross bar 10 by means of eye bolts 14C, closely adjacent to thedownturned lugs 12, are rearwardly extending straps or braces 15, therear ends of which are secured on the frame 1 by fastening members, suchas bolts 16. The apertured lugs 12 and the eye bolts 14 at the ends ofthe cross bar 10 combine to form bearings for journals or pintles 17formed at the forward ends of the shanks 18 of the drag hooks B. Thesedrag hooks, one of which is arranged at either side of the machine, aresupported adjacent to the inn'er faces of the ground wheels and suitablyspaced from the latter so as to leave ample clearance for the successfuloperation of the device. These drag hooks which may be formed from rodsof iron or steel by suitably bending the same are provided with links 19which are suitably connected therewith a short distance above the earthengaging points or bills of said hooks, said links being connected byflexible elements, such as chains 20, with the arms 7 of the rock shaft8. The journals 17 of the hooks may be provided with keys or cotter pins21 to retain them in their respective bearings.

It will be seen that in the operation of a stalk cutter equipped withthe improved device, the drag hooks B will engage stalks lying crosswiseof the machine and will drag the same to a lengthwise position in frontof the cutting apparatus, whereby suchv stalks will then be engaged andchopped into lengths of proper dimensions. When the machine is to betransported from place to place, and the cutting drum is lifted to anon-engaging position with respect to the ground the drag hooks willsimultaneously be lifted to a non-engaging position by the chains 2Oconnecting said hooks with the arms of the rock shaft S. The braces 15will support the cross bar 10 securely in the desired position inadvance of the frame to enable the drag hooks to be mounted in the mostadvantageous position for operation.

The construction of the improved attachment is simple and inexpensive,and said attachment when not in use may be readily disassembled andfolded into small compass.

Having thus described the invention, what 1s claimed as new, 1s:-

l. An attachment for stalk cutters comprising a bar having downturnedapering rearwardly from the eye bolts, drag hooks having shanks providedat the front ends thereof with journals engaging the apertured lugs andthe eye bolts, means for retaining the journals in engaging position,and links connected with the drag hooks.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP J. GRAUL.

Witnesses PETER W. LILL, JACOB OHL.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

